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slender waternymph

Scientific Name: Najas gracillima

Family: Najadaceae

Category: Monocot

Growth: Forb/herb

Duration: Annual

Other Names: IN (thread-like naiad), KY (thread-like naiad), MD

       

Najas flexilis and Najas gracillima: A Deep Dive into Slender Waternymphs

This page explores two fascinating aquatic plants, Najas flexilis (Slender Waternymph) and Najas gracillima (also Slender Waternymph), both belonging to the Waternymph family.

Considerations for Pets

  • These plants are often found in shallow, brackish, and fresh water, making them accessible to animals that drink from or enter these bodies of water.
  • The plants grow completely submerged.

Scientific Classification and Nomenclature

  • Family: Najadaceae (Waternymph Family)
  • Species:
    • Najas flexilis (Willd.) Rost & Schmidt
    • Najas gracillima (A. Braun ex Engelm.) Magnus
  • Common Names:
    • Najas flexilis: Slender Waternymph, Nodding Waternymph, Slender Naiad, Wavy Waternymph, Slender Naias
    • Najas gracillima: Slender Waternymph, Threadlike Naiad, Northern Naiad, Threadleaf Naiad
    • General: Waternymph, Naiad, Water Nymph
  • Synonyms: Najas indica var. gracillima A. Braun ex Engelm. (for Najas gracillima)
  • USDA Symbol: NAGR

Distribution and Habitat

  • Najas flexilis is native to parts of North America and Europe.
  • Najas gracillima is native to China and the Russian Far East (Amur).
  • Both species inhabit shallow bodies of brackish and fresh water.
  • Locations: Alabama, California, ME, NH, VT, MA, CT, RI.

Morphological Characteristics

  • Both are annual herbs.
  • These plants grow completely submerged.
  • They have slender, branched, creeping rhizomes.
  • Najas flexilis has slender stems.

Ecological Role

  • Najas species can sometimes be considered invasive.

Additional Information

  • Najas gracillima is a forb/herb, a non-woody plant that is not a grass.

Resources

  • USDA PLANTS Database
  • TERMIUM (Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank)
  • Discover Life